A Protestant group in South Korea has proposed a “peace train” project extending from Europe, through North Korea and ending in Busan to promote peace on the Korean peninsula. The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) said yesterday during a steering committee meeting that the project had wide support from groups including the Ecumenical Forum for Korea and the (North) Korean Christian Federation. The proposed plan, according to the NCCK, would see representatives attending the World Council of Churches (WCC) conference in Busan in 2013 transported there by train from Berlin and through North Korea. Officials from the WCC, the Council of Churches in Asia and several other national councils in North and South Korea discussed the plan during a meeting in Nanjing, China from June 16-17.

1. Protestants want peace train www.ucanews.com

2. Intercontinental project starting from Berlin aims to promote Korean unity. A Protestant group in South Korea has proposed a “peace train” project extending from Europe, through North Korea and ending in Busan to promote peace on the Korean peninsula.

3. The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) said yesterday during a steering committee meeting that the project had wide support from groups including the Ecumenical Forum for Korea and the (North) Korean Christian Federation.

4. The proposed plan, according to the NCCK, would see representatives attending the World Council of Churches (WCC) conference in Busan in 2013 transported there by train from Berlin and through North Korea.

5. Officials from the WCC, the Council of Churches in Asia and several other national councils in North and South Korea discussed the plan during a meeting in Nanjing, China from June 16-17.

6. Reverend Kim Chang-hyun, executive secretary of the NCCK, said North Korean representatives at the meeting promised their cooperation in the project, which he said was vital to the realization of the plan.

7. He added that Reverend Olav FykseTveit, general secretary of the WCC, planned to raise the issue with North Korean authorities and would officially invite North Korean Christians during a planned visit there next year.

8. The NCCK launched the Ecumenical Forum for Korea in 2006 in partnership with the (North) Korean Christian Federation and several other church organizations to promote peace and reunification in Korea. Since the outbreak of the Korean War, all rail links between north and south have been blocked.

9. Full story at http://www.ucanews.com/2011/06/21/protestants-want-peace-train/ http://www.ucanews.com/